tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4077399457552105152018-08-28T12:05:05.181-04:00A Walk in the WoodsCarolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-56544530347460091102010-05-25T09:29:00.004-04:002010-05-25T10:06:47.937-04:00Hospital Rock<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_vUG9t4WxI/AAAAAAAAAbI/yAlprgJiV70/s1600/IMG_3678.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475202988110273298" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_vUG9t4WxI/AAAAAAAAAbI/yAlprgJiV70/s320/IMG_3678.JPG" /></a> I think this may be one of the hardest hikes I have ever done. It should be, because it is rated as the most strenuous hike in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_vUGg6PpLI/AAAAAAAAAbA/3-19bO9SCPw/s1600/IMG_3692.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475202980377502898" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_vUGg6PpLI/AAAAAAAAAbA/3-19bO9SCPw/s320/IMG_3692.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>The trail is so steep in areas, cables were stretched along the trail to assist the hikers pull themselves up, but hikers depended too heavily on these cables and they become a safety issue. The cables were recently removed so now the hikers have to depend on their own climbing and rock scrambling abilities in the most difficult areas of this trail.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_vUFnIyE_I/AAAAAAAAAaw/HcqgW0aIGE8/s1600/IMG_3698.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475202964869223410" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_vUFnIyE_I/AAAAAAAAAaw/HcqgW0aIGE8/s320/IMG_3698.JPG" /></a><br /><br />If you survive the climbing on this trail, you will be rewarded with many beautiful views. There is a lot of history surrounding Hospital Rock. During the Civil War, wounded and deserting soldiers hid out under the rock overhang being held up by Leah in the picture. </div><div></div><div>Another beautiful site is Falls Creek Falls seen here.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_vUFfxMOXI/AAAAAAAAAao/NapjlCXAqOI/s1600/IMG_3718.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475202962891225458" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_vUFfxMOXI/AAAAAAAAAao/NapjlCXAqOI/s320/IMG_3718.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-66933881959943508272010-05-20T10:32:00.003-04:002010-05-20T11:00:15.584-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VJsD4q2DI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/d867lbI9JSE/s1600/IMG_3635.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473361943444772914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VJsD4q2DI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/d867lbI9JSE/s320/IMG_3635.JPG" /></a> Rain was forecast the day the Foothills Outdoor Group hiked along the Jones Gap Trail. Most of the people that said they were coming didn't take a chance with the forecast, but for the four of us that showed up, we had a wonderful hike.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VJr4FjOCI/AAAAAAAAAZI/lJ-cHd2i4Sw/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_3628.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 357px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473361940277573666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VJr4FjOCI/AAAAAAAAAZI/lJ-cHd2i4Sw/s320/Copy+of+IMG_3628.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>There were many flowers blooming and the overcast shies were perfect for photography. Oh, the rain held off until we got back to the parking lot so we didn't get wet at all on the hike.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VJrFyqhXI/AAAAAAAAAY4/s_8Sg-NMBLE/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_3616.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473361926776587634" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VJrFyqhXI/AAAAAAAAAY4/s_8Sg-NMBLE/s320/Copy+of+IMG_3616.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VJqrEGF8I/AAAAAAAAAYw/4futpmu998Y/s1600/IMG_3646.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473361919601940418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VJqrEGF8I/AAAAAAAAAYw/4futpmu998Y/s320/IMG_3646.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-14558067706778878392010-05-20T10:21:00.002-04:002010-05-20T10:32:34.963-04:00Spring tour of the Clemson Botanical Gardens<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGm1Q5KKI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ScD-fdjZ7iA/s1600/IMG_3541.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473358555085613218" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGm1Q5KKI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ScD-fdjZ7iA/s320/IMG_3541.JPG" /></a> No need for any explaination here.<br /><br />If you haven't visited the Clemson Botanical Gardens, you are missing one of the Upstate's treasures.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGmUy8NjI/AAAAAAAAAYg/m_d65BAX5ls/s1600/IMG_3547.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473358546370049586" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGmUy8NjI/AAAAAAAAAYg/m_d65BAX5ls/s320/IMG_3547.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGl0upV2I/AAAAAAAAAYY/KhIPi-IvdW8/s1600/IMG_3550.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473358537762101090" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGl0upV2I/AAAAAAAAAYY/KhIPi-IvdW8/s320/IMG_3550.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGlmGGdTI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/ilSQT3uQuVM/s1600/IMG_3579.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473358533833946418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGlmGGdTI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/ilSQT3uQuVM/s320/IMG_3579.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGlbRgzGI/AAAAAAAAAYI/zMKIG2VLv7A/s1600/IMG_3564.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473358530929020002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_VGlbRgzGI/AAAAAAAAAYI/zMKIG2VLv7A/s320/IMG_3564.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-38070960048719049412010-05-20T09:38:00.003-04:002010-05-20T10:11:08.736-04:00Raven Cliff Falls LoopEarly this spring,<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8TlLC0_I/AAAAAAAAAXE/EXqfQYvDqnc/s1600/P4100041.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473347229232321522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8TlLC0_I/AAAAAAAAAXE/EXqfQYvDqnc/s320/P4100041.jpg" /></a> I lead a hike on the Raven Cliff Falls Loop for the Foothills Outdoors Group. We started out on the Raven Cliff Falls Trail. We went to the overlook and viewed the 400' waterfall from there, then backtracked a short distance and began our desent into the bottom of the valley on the Dismal Trail.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8Tb6W_WI/AAAAAAAAAW8/t19dVPCZ6Uw/s1600/P4100045.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473347226746420578" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8Tb6W_WI/AAAAAAAAAW8/t19dVPCZ6Uw/s320/P4100045.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>When The Dismal Trail intersected with the Natraland Trust Trail, we turned right where in a short distance we had to cross Mathews Creek by way of this Cable Crossing. Making our way up the trail, we were greeted by the Cathedral. A shear rock wall that towers over 100' above the trail. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8TFf_wPI/AAAAAAAAAW0/oez3YsXj1Vw/s1600/P4100057.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473347220730265842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8TFf_wPI/AAAAAAAAAW0/oez3YsXj1Vw/s320/P4100057.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8S7mputI/AAAAAAAAAWs/hV97TxUMbQk/s1600/P4100056.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473347218073828050" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8S7mputI/AAAAAAAAAWs/hV97TxUMbQk/s320/P4100056.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>A little further up the trail we finally come to the cable Suspinsion bridge that spans over Raven Cliff Falls. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8ScMTObI/AAAAAAAAAWk/CuVabEUaKuk/s1600/P4100052.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473347209641802162" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S_U8ScMTObI/AAAAAAAAAWk/CuVabEUaKuk/s320/P4100052.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />From there we hiked on until we come to the Gum Gap trail where we turned right again. When we intersected back with the Raven Cliff Falls Trail, we turned left and headed back to the parking lot.<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-48687807544109447782010-01-26T09:46:00.008-05:002010-01-26T10:09:07.376-05:00Table Rock in the Clouds<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A4eqOE1I/AAAAAAAAAWc/yE_X0FAkcTM/s1600-h/IMG_3383.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431060645934928722" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A4eqOE1I/AAAAAAAAAWc/yE_X0FAkcTM/s320/IMG_3383.JPG" /></a> Saturday, January 23, 2010 was a cold, cloudy,and just plain raw. The kind of day most people would be content staying in the house with a cup of hot chocolate.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A4dxF51I/AAAAAAAAAWU/GTEK5vqquRY/s1600-h/IMG_3378.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 357px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431060645695317842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A4dxF51I/AAAAAAAAAWU/GTEK5vqquRY/s320/IMG_3378.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A4Jb_taI/AAAAAAAAAWM/PTucw5Myi2Y/s1600-h/IMG_3391.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431060640238122402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A4Jb_taI/AAAAAAAAAWM/PTucw5Myi2Y/s320/IMG_3391.JPG" /></a><br />I, on the other hand, decided to go hiking. I chose to go back to Table Rock as it is one of my favorite places. (I seem to have a lot of those)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A3uY7A9I/AAAAAAAAAWE/iqwoq2WoxWY/s1600-h/IMG_3382.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431060632977474514" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A3uY7A9I/AAAAAAAAAWE/iqwoq2WoxWY/s320/IMG_3382.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A3QQzoDI/AAAAAAAAAV8/lN-3lxFd3UU/s1600-h/TR+Shelter.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 358px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431060624890372146" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S18A3QQzoDI/AAAAAAAAAV8/lN-3lxFd3UU/s320/TR+Shelter.JPG" /></a><br />Anyway, at the bottom I could look up and see that the clouds had descended below the top of the mountain. As I ascended the nearly 2,000' of elevation gain, I entered into the low cloud cover. The higher I climbed, the more dense the cover.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I met some people coming back down complaining that they couldn't see anything from the top, but I thought is was still pretty, as the clouds give the mountain a mystical look.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-42965828479209745232010-01-12T20:11:00.005-05:002010-01-12T21:09:53.432-05:00An icy Rainbow Falls<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e8xd95cI/AAAAAAAAAVw/knkYS-JT7qg/s1600-h/rainbowfalls+pan+3.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 355px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 380px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426027155471328706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e8xd95cI/AAAAAAAAAVw/knkYS-JT7qg/s320/rainbowfalls+pan+3.JPG" /></a> This is the same Rainbow Falls where I had my Thanksgiving Day lunch. There is a posting of it a little further down. It was fun to comare the trail and the waterfall from Thanksgiving to today in the one of the coldest Januarys we have had in nearly 28 years. The temperatures here have been into the single digits and have not gotten above freezing in nearly three weeks.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e8k4676I/AAAAAAAAAVo/oj2b7P_Camo/s1600-h/rainbow+falls+panorama1.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 500px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426027152094719906" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e8k4676I/AAAAAAAAAVo/oj2b7P_Camo/s320/rainbow+falls+panorama1.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e8DZcYjI/AAAAAAAAAVg/6aK4C9CHYTA/s1600-h/IMG_3360.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426027143104324146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e8DZcYjI/AAAAAAAAAVg/6aK4C9CHYTA/s320/IMG_3360.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>It is amazing, but beautiful, to see the water freeze on the rocks like this.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e781GXvI/AAAAAAAAAVY/6gszP_Dn4UM/s1600-h/IMG_3280.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 345px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426027141341273842" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e781GXvI/AAAAAAAAAVY/6gszP_Dn4UM/s320/IMG_3280.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e7i_-ztI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ecaAkGjWViU/s1600-h/IMG_3286.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426027134407593682" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00e7i_-ztI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ecaAkGjWViU/s320/IMG_3286.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-59750896131564966072010-01-12T19:15:00.004-05:002010-01-12T20:07:04.265-05:00Winter Wonderland at Flat Laurel Creek<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SJA43dtI/AAAAAAAAAVI/BxsXtl3ANIQ/s1600-h/IMG00205.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426013072117954258" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SJA43dtI/AAAAAAAAAVI/BxsXtl3ANIQ/s320/IMG00205.jpg" /></a> I was just here the Saturday before this hike, but I loved hiking in the snow so much and it was so pretty here I wanted to come back.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SIhSqa7I/AAAAAAAAAVA/hvk43JUnznI/s1600-h/IMG00200.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 349px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426013063636216754" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SIhSqa7I/AAAAAAAAAVA/hvk43JUnznI/s320/IMG00200.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SITByqeI/AAAAAAAAAU4/-iCXPY11MqY/s1600-h/IMG00195.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426013059807357410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SITByqeI/AAAAAAAAAU4/-iCXPY11MqY/s320/IMG00195.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This time the temperature was around zero or maybe just a little below zero. The wind was blowing pretty hard so I would hate to think what the windchill was.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SIFqhR9I/AAAAAAAAAUw/udPcazYFyW0/s1600-h/IMG00194.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 360px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426013056220088274" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SIFqhR9I/AAAAAAAAAUw/udPcazYFyW0/s320/IMG00194.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SHwmKd7I/AAAAAAAAAUo/Z22iu90Yz34/s1600-h/IMG00204.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426013050564671410" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S00SHwmKd7I/AAAAAAAAAUo/Z22iu90Yz34/s320/IMG00204.jpg" /></a><br />Last week when I was here there was ice in this stream, I still had to cross stepping from stone to stone. This time the stream was frozen so solid you could tell it was a stream anymore except you could still hear the water flowing underneath it. The same with the waterfalls I come across on this trail too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-77560292217890497372010-01-12T09:42:00.005-05:002010-01-12T09:57:58.119-05:00Ice Climbing<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0yLAoLsRgI/AAAAAAAAAS0/DU2s-cbMc2E/s1600-h/IMG00192.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425864493977323010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0yLAoLsRgI/AAAAAAAAAS0/DU2s-cbMc2E/s320/IMG00192.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />On January 9th, I was going back to hike in the snow on Flat Laurel Creek Trail again. The trailhead is located just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway on Highway 215. The actuall temperature this day was right around zero degrees and it had been below freezing for serveral weeks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The water that seeps out of the rock rock wall on the left side of the road near the Parkway was frozen over into a solid wall of ice.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0yLAUeQkxI/AAAAAAAAASs/vikWWojBWwQ/s1600-h/IMG00187.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 367px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425864488686490386" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0yLAUeQkxI/AAAAAAAAASs/vikWWojBWwQ/s320/IMG00187.jpg" /></a><br />This provided the rock climbers an opportunity to have some fun scaling this wall of ice.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0yLAEJF6MI/AAAAAAAAASk/UorCKIgvGwo/s1600-h/IMG00189.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425864484302743746" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0yLAEJF6MI/AAAAAAAAASk/UorCKIgvGwo/s320/IMG00189.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>I<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0yK_uNm-fI/AAAAAAAAASU/R0_2H-f8TEk/s1600-h/IMG00191.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 364px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425864478416108018" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0yK_uNm-fI/AAAAAAAAASU/R0_2H-f8TEk/s320/IMG00191.jpg" /></a><br />I stopped to watch for a while and enjoyed talking to Leslie with Fox Mountain Guides. Their website is located at <a href="http://www.foxmountainguides.com/">http://www.foxmountainguides.com/</a> if you would like to check them out.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-52907142729515874842010-01-04T11:52:00.007-05:002010-01-04T12:27:31.150-05:00A Walk in the Snow<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IdoaiWOwI/AAAAAAAAAP4/ctDLMqhphhE/s1600-h/IMG_3279.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422929481462856450" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IdoaiWOwI/AAAAAAAAAP4/ctDLMqhphhE/s320/IMG_3279.JPG" /></a><br /><br />On the second day of the New Year I wanted to not only do another walk in the woods, but also do a walk in the snow.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IdoAK7lYI/AAAAAAAAAPw/h5_Kjn_f4h0/s1600-h/IMG_3270.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 342px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422929474385319298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IdoAK7lYI/AAAAAAAAAPw/h5_Kjn_f4h0/s320/IMG_3270.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>We found plenty of it by going up Highway 215 from Rosman, NC up to just past the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped and walked up the Flat Laurel Creek about 2 1/2 miles or so trying to walk in the snow that other hikers that gone in before us had packed down. If we stepped out of that rut the snow was often over knee deep. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0Idn0XDK5I/AAAAAAAAAPo/7C6sMwi9jrU/s1600-h/IMG_3262.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 344px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422929471214922642" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0Idn0XDK5I/AAAAAAAAAPo/7C6sMwi9jrU/s320/IMG_3262.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IdnlTYhgI/AAAAAAAAAPg/ckqoSGcuDEI/s1600-h/IMG_3259.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422929467173012994" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IdnlTYhgI/AAAAAAAAAPg/ckqoSGcuDEI/s320/IMG_3259.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Here is one waterfall that was frozen completely over. You could still see the water flowing under the ice. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IdnDTQiQI/AAAAAAAAAPY/PSEnqFfxPKw/s1600-h/IMG_3248.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 345px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422929458045683970" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IdnDTQiQI/AAAAAAAAAPY/PSEnqFfxPKw/s320/IMG_3248.JPG" /></a><br />When we started hiking the temperature was 24 degrees, but as it got later into the day, the temperature started going down and it was 11 degrees when we got back to the car.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-84879356489007591332010-01-04T11:15:00.005-05:002010-01-05T23:25:51.368-05:00What a way to start 2010<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVI-lvwPI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/WKpSyXD692k/s1600-h/IMG_3238.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422920145291952370" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVI-lvwPI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/WKpSyXD692k/s320/IMG_3238.JPG" style="height: 186px; width: 294px;" /></a> I always like to start the New Year off doing something fun like scuba diving, kayaking, or hiking a nice trail somewhere. This New Years Day I revisited Moonshine Falls. The last time I was there, the Upstate of South Carolina was in a drought and the water flow over the fall was down to a trickle. This past year we had plenty of rain so I wanted to see the waterfall in full flow.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVIqQF5bI/AAAAAAAAAPI/jMSOlMsC1G8/s1600-h/IMG_3231.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422920139832419762" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVIqQF5bI/AAAAAAAAAPI/jMSOlMsC1G8/s320/IMG_3231.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 214px; width: 320px;" /></a> To get to Moonshine Falls you have to enter into the Asbury Camp on 276 just North of where 276 and Highway 8 come together. Asbury Camp is on private property so please look it up and call for permission to enter before you go up.<br /></div><div></div><div>The trail in not particularly difficult, but there is a cable crossing on the trail that small children and people with a fear of heights may have a problem with although the foot cable is only about 4~5 above Mathews Creek. There is a picture of it on an earlier post on this site. Also, be aware that stepping from stone to stone to cross the creek here is not an option so dogs will have to swim across and the current can be pretty strong.<br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVIVjcePI/AAAAAAAAAPA/KPlOWyyZ2iI/s1600-h/IMG_3221.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422920134276446450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVIVjcePI/AAAAAAAAAPA/KPlOWyyZ2iI/s320/IMG_3221.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 214px; width: 320px;" /></a> You can usually pick up a map in an info tube near the trail head. The trail is not hard to follow, but there is one point where the trail looks like it goes off to the right after you are on the Natureland Trust Trail for a bit. Someone has marked this trail with a pile of rocks. This would not be a problem except the trail map you pick up and all trail descriptions tell you to turn right at the pile of rocks on the side of the trail. If you turned at this pile of rocks you would follow a trail that dead ends in about a quarter mile. So just in case, to avoid confusion, look for the pile of rocks that you will find after you have walked up a long grade in what almost looks like a ditch or gully of sorts. There will be a kiosk on the right about 50 yards telling you this where people get into trouble getting off the trail. if you see that, you will know you are on the right trail.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVIatSALI/AAAAAAAAAO4/689LjHmwVoQ/s1600-h/IMG_3217.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422920135659880626" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVIatSALI/AAAAAAAAAO4/689LjHmwVoQ/s320/IMG_3217.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 352px; width: 282px;" /></a> When you come to the next pile of rocks the bigger trail you have been walking on keeps going straight and there will be a smaller trail to the right on top of a ridge that you will take to the fall. In about two hundred feet you will see signs where people have gone done the bank to the falls that you can hear and barely see through the trees at this point. Please use caution going down this steep bank as the leaves can be quite slippery.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVHgI6tDI/AAAAAAAAAOw/seaqcYSaFQU/s1600-h/IMG_3208.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422920119938102322" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/S0IVHgI6tDI/AAAAAAAAAOw/seaqcYSaFQU/s320/IMG_3208.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 379px; width: 290px;" /></a> From one of the pictures above you will see there are remnants of the old moonshine still that used to be there under the waterfall.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-18250674288335760062009-12-22T08:59:00.003-05:002009-12-22T09:14:49.802-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRVpLBHZI/AAAAAAAAAOo/KV-jJY3u5UI/s1600-h/IMG_3201.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 312px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418060521486228882" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRVpLBHZI/AAAAAAAAAOo/KV-jJY3u5UI/s320/IMG_3201.JPG" /></a> I really wanted to go up to WNC and hike in the snow that fell this weekend in December of 2009, but I was a little afraid of the ice on the roads so I headed over to another favorite trail of mine and hiked from the Fish Hatchery on the East Fork Trail down to the Chattooga<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRVf6QPQI/AAAAAAAAAOg/TT9jveDfupE/s1600-h/IMG_3189.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 346px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418060518999997698" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRVf6QPQI/AAAAAAAAAOg/TT9jveDfupE/s320/IMG_3189.JPG" /></a> River Trail.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRVIUahvI/AAAAAAAAAOY/VdZGs1Ou-8M/s1600-h/IMG_3180.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 361px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418060512667272946" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRVIUahvI/AAAAAAAAAOY/VdZGs1Ou-8M/s320/IMG_3180.JPG" /></a> While it didn't snow here, it was still very cold as you can see by the way I was dressed. Thank God for Under Armor as well.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRUkkmEoI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/axzdyYcMCj8/s1600-h/IMG_3178.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 420px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418060503071462018" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRUkkmEoI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/axzdyYcMCj8/s320/IMG_3178.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRUeL4afI/AAAAAAAAAOI/kE-Dx4LQpB8/s1600-h/IMG00175.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418060501357193714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDRUeL4afI/AAAAAAAAAOI/kE-Dx4LQpB8/s320/IMG00175.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I'll let these pictures speak for themselves as to how pretty this trail is. The Walhalla Fish Hatchery is located off Highway 107 north of Walhalla just before you cross the North Carolina line.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-38912571752250297212009-12-22T08:36:00.003-05:002009-12-22T08:50:21.947-05:00Ty-Lyn Plantation<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL1iQvHGI/AAAAAAAAANY/A-gFpNK22qc/s1600-h/PC050011.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418054472317213794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL1iQvHGI/AAAAAAAAANY/A-gFpNK22qc/s320/PC050011.JPG" /></a> The weekend after Thanksgiving was a walk in the Christmas Tree Farm near Cashiers, NC. I have been going to Ty-Lyn Plantation to cut my own Christmas tree for years. The first time I went to Cashiers I didn't know which tree farm I was going to go to, but I saw one of their Santa signs pointing the direction to go so I followed the signs until I found Ty-Lyn and quickly become a fan.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL1eMAPqI/AAAAAAAAANQ/y4vBUMgwJZY/s1600-h/PC050008.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 352px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418054471223623330" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL1eMAPqI/AAAAAAAAANQ/y4vBUMgwJZY/s320/PC050008.JPG" /></a><br />It is always beautiful there and this year it snowed just a little the morning before I went up really making the trees pretty.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL1NHNdqI/AAAAAAAAANI/Qo_4CIGyEEk/s1600-h/PC050004.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 377px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 311px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418054466640115362" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL1NHNdqI/AAAAAAAAANI/Qo_4CIGyEEk/s320/PC050004.JPG" /></a> After I cut my tree, I always like to stop by the Highland Hiker Outfitter store in Cashiers then over to Tommy's Coffee shop for a warming cup of coffee or hot chocolate.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL09-e5-I/AAAAAAAAANA/RD9l28cN0Uk/s1600-h/PC050012.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418054462576977890" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL09-e5-I/AAAAAAAAANA/RD9l28cN0Uk/s320/PC050012.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL0mZg25I/AAAAAAAAAM4/ta2-SuDZlCE/s1600-h/PC050013.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418054456247901074" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SzDL0mZg25I/AAAAAAAAAM4/ta2-SuDZlCE/s320/PC050013.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-63961017812463997662009-12-06T15:51:00.003-05:002009-12-22T08:36:13.348-05:00Every<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaMh4n8JI/AAAAAAAAAMw/vrUmK6b3Q_g/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_3160.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 149px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412229654749114514" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaMh4n8JI/AAAAAAAAAMw/vrUmK6b3Q_g/s320/Copy+of+IMG_3160.JPG" /></a> once<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaMfmwDvI/AAAAAAAAAMo/ckLFssMPhMc/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_3123.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 344px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412229654137278194" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaMfmwDvI/AAAAAAAAAMo/ckLFssMPhMc/s320/Copy+of+IMG_3123.JPG" /></a> in a while you come across a trail you don't want to let anyone else know about because you want to keep it all to your self. Rainbow Falls in Jones Gap State Park is one of those trails. This trail was closed a few years ago for maintenance and what they did to this trail is amazing. There was a fire here in late February of 2009 and some signs of the fire still remain today, but other than the few charred trees you see along the way the trail is still in fantastic shape.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaMCDOQ5I/AAAAAAAAAMg/ejzi6LuCsuY/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_3129.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 291px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 364px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412229646203634578" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaMCDOQ5I/AAAAAAAAAMg/ejzi6LuCsuY/s320/Copy+of+IMG_3129.JPG" /></a><br />you start out at Jones Gap State Park and head upstream along side the Middle Saluda River. in about a half mile the Jones Gap </div><div>Trail will continue straight(okay, slightly left) and the Rainbow Falls Trail will fork to the left and cross over the Middle Saluda River. You will walk along close to or cross the Cox Camp Creek several times as you work your up to Rainbow Falls. The trail takes you through some neat features like you see at t he left here and in the winter when the leaves are down you will be treated to some great views looking back down into the Jones Gap valley .<br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaL0Qb9OI/AAAAAAAAAMY/wnBGXcDoSFw/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_3132.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 366px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412229642500961506" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaL0Qb9OI/AAAAAAAAAMY/wnBGXcDoSFw/s320/Copy+of+IMG_3132.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I was here once during the drought on 2008 and the water in the fall was reduced to a mere trickle, but in November of 2009 with all the rain we have been having, the fall was running strong and was magnificent. You can see how this waterfall got its name here. just be aware that there is a waterfall in North Carolina with the same name so if you tell someone you are going to meet them at Rainbow Falls that you tell them which one you are going to. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaLhIJTZI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/4hxLf62loz8/s1600-h/Rainbow+stitch+2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 419px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 411px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412229637365910930" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwaLhIJTZI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/4hxLf62loz8/s320/Rainbow+stitch+2.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-25812943684231720212009-12-06T15:26:00.004-05:002009-12-06T16:25:22.357-05:00Table Rock revisited<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUK3La2lI/AAAAAAAAAMI/KenqzKK7reQ/s1600-h/PB210023.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 294px; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412223029035588178" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUK3La2lI/AAAAAAAAAMI/KenqzKK7reQ/s320/PB210023.JPG" /></a> I don't even remember how many times I have hiked to the top of Table Rock in Table Rock State Park on Highway 11 near Pickens, SC. This may be one of the most strenuous hikes in SC, but is also one of the most popular due to its easy accessibility. I love to do as part of my exercise routine and you will probably meet people there that walk or run it every day.<br /><br />Once you reach the summit at just past 3 miles you need to keep going almost another half mile.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUKhVdSqI/AAAAAAAAAMA/nBht2hI-Szo/s1600-h/PB210020.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 504px; HEIGHT: 327px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412223023172111010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUKhVdSqI/AAAAAAAAAMA/nBht2hI-Szo/s320/PB210020.JPG" /></a> You will first come to a bald rock area that offers a splendid view looking back down on Highway 11 and towards Greenville, but if you keep going the trail gets a little hard to follow as you have to look for the red blazes painted onto the rock that have nearly faded away, but soon you will come to the end of the trail just past the 31/2 mile marker. The view here looks over the water shed and if the air is clear you can see the water tank at Caesars Head State Park on the mountain straight across from the lake.<br /><br /><div>I used to think the shelter was a the half way point, but since they put the mile markers up I</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUKZ6TL2I/AAAAAAAAAL4/B1zKOXRdhqs/s1600-h/PB210017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 429px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412223021179154274" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUKZ6TL2I/AAAAAAAAAL4/B1zKOXRdhqs/s320/PB210017.JPG" /></a> found it is not exactly half was, but it offers a welcome place to stop and rest on the way to the top. The view from here is not bad and after the climb to this point a lot of people call this good enough and return back to the bottom.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUKBnug1I/AAAAAAAAALw/hfUai1AZOjA/s1600-h/PB210016.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412223014658802514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUKBnug1I/AAAAAAAAALw/hfUai1AZOjA/s320/PB210016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUJ0tuggI/AAAAAAAAALo/N91LXb384qo/s1600-h/PB210012(1).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 397px; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412223011194307074" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SxwUJ0tuggI/AAAAAAAAALo/N91LXb384qo/s320/PB210012(1).JPG" /></a> The trail to Table Rock starts out along Carrick Creek which also has a trail that runs along side of this small stream . this is a nice loop and can be done alone as I have done many times or can be added to the Table Rock trek is seven miles is not enough for you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-16950610149652948332009-11-16T08:14:00.004-05:002009-12-06T16:24:41.966-05:00Panther Creek Falls<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSu9BNMSI/AAAAAAAAALc/5982ma0RHuw/s1600/IMG_3118.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 407px; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404691994428387618" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSu9BNMSI/AAAAAAAAALc/5982ma0RHuw/s320/IMG_3118.JPG" /></a> This weekend I joined the Oconee Hiking Club for this trek to Panther Creek Falls. The directions to the falls, take US 23/441 south from Tallulah Falls . In 3 miles, turn right on Historic 441 to the Panther Creek Recreation Area on the right (fee area).The western end of the trail begins across the highway from the Recreation area.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSui0g84I/AAAAAAAAALU/zGLg4xbT4Pc/s1600/IMG_3112.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 342px; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404691987395834754" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSui0g84I/AAAAAAAAALU/zGLg4xbT4Pc/s320/IMG_3112.JPG" /></a> Panther Creek Falls is 3.5 miles from the trail head. The trail soon goes under an overpass US441 and for a short distance seems to be sort of boring. Then the trail comes high above the creek below. The trail seems to be mostly flat with a few mild inclines. In a few places the trail is mostly a ledge with a steep hill side down to the creek so footing should be watched in these areas.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSuV56ZQI/AAAAAAAAALM/czop2YztUm0/s1600/IMG_3098.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404691983928812802" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSuV56ZQI/AAAAAAAAALM/czop2YztUm0/s320/IMG_3098.JPG" /></a> Cable handrails have been provided to assist with traversing in the worst areas, but in one place very near the falls the post holding the cable has pulled out of the ground in the worst possible area so extreme caution should be used here.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSuO_JXNI/AAAAAAAAALE/_A-ri_nu8gw/s1600/IMG_3091.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404691982071717074" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSuO_JXNI/AAAAAAAAALE/_A-ri_nu8gw/s320/IMG_3091.JPG" /></a> While the trail is high above the creek in some areas, in other areas it runs right along side of it with many great views of shoals and cascades.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSttqHIKI/AAAAAAAAAK8/OdbYqskWvTw/s1600/IMG_3096.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 391px; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404691973125120162" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SwFSttqHIKI/AAAAAAAAAK8/OdbYqskWvTw/s320/IMG_3096.JPG" /></a> This is a great hike, but that also makes it a very popular one. Expect large crowds at the falls or go through the week or in colder weather if you prefer a little more solitude, but it is one one worth seeing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-37094565299218334062009-10-27T15:15:00.003-04:002009-12-06T16:29:34.885-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHzgR2MHI/AAAAAAAAAK0/DmA9cwk_F00/s1600-h/IMG00102.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 381px; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397361628590518386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHzgR2MHI/AAAAAAAAAK0/DmA9cwk_F00/s400/IMG00102.jpg" /></a> If you are anywhere near Brevard, NC, you should really check out these falls. Take Highway 64 west and go about two miles past Rosman and turn right on Highway 215 at the Headwaters Outfitters. Go about 7 miles and you will notice the road seems to straighten and level out where you will look on the left shoulder of the road where people have been pulling off and parking. If you see the Living Waters Ministry, you went 100 yards too far. Look for a pile of big rocks where you find the trail head going down to the falls. Go to the right first toward the ministry and you will see two separate falls where the North Fork of the French Broad River and Shoals Creek come together.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHzcqeEzI/AAAAAAAAAKs/X5OvY_W4W3Y/s1600-h/IMG00104.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 441px; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397361627620053810" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHzcqeEzI/AAAAAAAAAKs/X5OvY_W4W3Y/s400/IMG00104.jpg" /></a><br />The Shoals Creek Falls is the one next to the red house. Return back on the trail and go beyond where you come down from the parking lot and you will come to Cathedral Falls or often called Bird Rock Falls because of the birds that nest in the rock cliff here.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHzG_6VKI/AAAAAAAAAKk/00Yh6PrxDpw/s1600-h/IMG00102.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 325px; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397361621804405922" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHzG_6VKI/AAAAAAAAAKk/00Yh6PrxDpw/s400/IMG00102.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHyoIDzDI/AAAAAAAAAKc/a_K4FydK7QM/s1600-h/IMG00100.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397361613517081650" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHyoIDzDI/AAAAAAAAAKc/a_K4FydK7QM/s400/IMG00100.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHyT818AI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Qw4K6F0ngRU/s1600-h/IMG00098.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 642px; HEIGHT: 443px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397361608101326850" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SudHyT818AI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Qw4K6F0ngRU/s400/IMG00098.jpg" /></a><br />Just one thing to mention here. When I got here to photograph the falls in this post I realized the batteries were dead in my camera. I thought, what the heck, and took these photos with my Blackberry Cell phone and was surprised at how well they turned out.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-33952557984573774882009-10-27T14:18:00.005-04:002009-10-27T14:56:00.620-04:00Courthouse Falls<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc61QFrZ6I/AAAAAAAAAKM/PgjotgWGFgI/s1600-h/IMG00096.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397347364953089954" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc61QFrZ6I/AAAAAAAAAKM/PgjotgWGFgI/s320/IMG00096.jpg" /></a><br />In the search for new waterfalls to explorer, I heard about Courthouse Falls from a Park Ranger in the Pisgah Forest near Brevard one day and I was anxious to check it out. To get to Courthouse Falls, take Highway 64 west out of Brevard or 178 north to Rosman then turn left on Highway 64. About 2 miles west of Rosman turn right onto highway 215 at the Head Waters Outfitters. Take 215 for 10 miles and look for a narrow bridge. There is a gravel road on the right (FR 140) just before the bridge. Take the gravel road for three miles.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc61EixZkI/AAAAAAAAAKE/eOaPHj7aSMk/s1600-h/IMG00095.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397347361853892162" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc61EixZkI/AAAAAAAAAKE/eOaPHj7aSMk/s320/IMG00095.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc60zNPvnI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/nDOV8kHvMVg/s1600-h/IMG00094.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397347357200203378" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc60zNPvnI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/nDOV8kHvMVg/s320/IMG00094.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc60SbQBsI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/M_ne5O95bWc/s1600-h/IMG00092.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 242px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397347348400572098" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc60SbQBsI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/M_ne5O95bWc/s320/IMG00092.jpg" /></a> You will cross several small bridges along the way and climb up one somewhat steep and curvy section. I would not recommend cars with low ground clearance attempt the drive, but I did meet a Mercedes on my way out. Immediately after the fourth bridge there is a wide place on the side of the road...park here and look for the trail head at the corner of the downstream end of the bridge. Walk about seven minutes or so and look for a trail that cuts back down the slope at an angle. You should be able to see the fall through the trees. There are several trails that go straight down the bank, but do not take those. </div><div> </div><div>This trail eventually comes back out on 215 so if you end up back out on the road you know you went way too far. The gravel road goes on up to several smaller falls that I plan to explorer one day.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc60MZVgDI/AAAAAAAAAJs/EXxKGNG-qkg/s1600-h/IMG00091.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397347346781929522" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Suc60MZVgDI/AAAAAAAAAJs/EXxKGNG-qkg/s320/IMG00091.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-34825464217801194212009-05-12T21:57:00.006-04:002009-05-12T22:39:29.443-04:00Jumping Off Rock<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgoprC98JBI/AAAAAAAAAJE/1oTp-2UXds0/s1600-h/Jumping+Off+Rock009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 350px; HEIGHT: 544px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335122528081552402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgoprC98JBI/AAAAAAAAAJE/1oTp-2UXds0/s400/Jumping+Off+Rock009.JPG" /></a> The view from Jumping Off Rock has to be one of the best panoramas you can find in South Carolina. Standing on top of a 300' rock cliff looking over Lake Jocassee you can see the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia. Jumping Off Rock used to be a popular repelling site and once I saw the Army Rangers training here.<br /><br />Jumping Off Rock is closed to the public now since a mating couple of Peregrine Falcons have decided to call the rock cliff home and have been nesting there for two seasons now.<br /><br />A new overlook has been constructed a hundred yards or so away that still offers unbelievable views and is much safer than Jumping Off Rock itself. if you are lucky perhaps the Peregrine Falcons will come out and show you some high speed areal maneuvers they are known for.<br /><br />You can access the Jumping Off Rock overlook from Horse Pasture Rd. This is a rough gravel road and while you don't need four wheel drive, it is a good idea to have a vehicle with high ground clearance like an SUV or pickup. The overlook is nine miles off 178 near Rocky Bottom and depending on the condition of the road you will probably not be able to go over 10~15 MPH, but there are many great views along the way. Just watch out for mountain bikers, dirt bikes, and four wheelers.<br /><br />Horse Pasture Road is open to foot traffic, mountain bikes or horseback all year, but is only open to vehicle traffic from Sept. 15 through Jan. 1 and again March 20 through May 10.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgoprNufBKI/AAAAAAAAAI8/1E83EYrPslM/s1600-h/Jumping+Off+Rock018.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 696px; HEIGHT: 326px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335122530969519266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgoprNufBKI/AAAAAAAAAI8/1E83EYrPslM/s400/Jumping+Off+Rock018.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgopqxH6EbI/AAAAAAAAAI0/-x7nrXcH-_4/s1600-h/Jumping+Off+Rock001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 322px; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335122523291521458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgopqxH6EbI/AAAAAAAAAI0/-x7nrXcH-_4/s400/Jumping+Off+Rock001.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgopqyB1sYI/AAAAAAAAAIs/it4vl_XF8x0/s1600-h/Jumping+Off+Rock019.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 435px; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335122523534504322" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgopqyB1sYI/AAAAAAAAAIs/it4vl_XF8x0/s400/Jumping+Off+Rock019.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgopqvRi7sI/AAAAAAAAAIk/P7mewMWM7Y8/s1600-h/Jumping+Off+Rock015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 445px; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335122522795077314" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SgopqvRi7sI/AAAAAAAAAIk/P7mewMWM7Y8/s400/Jumping+Off+Rock015.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-44824742869485677042009-04-07T21:38:00.005-04:002009-04-07T22:01:08.810-04:00Another Walk on Jones Gap Trail<div align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdwA43jBWWI/AAAAAAAAAH8/8C4E77izL14/s1600-h/Cheryl+II+(3).jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 426px; HEIGHT: 368px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322129836628597090" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdwA43jBWWI/AAAAAAAAAH8/8C4E77izL14/s400/Cheryl+II+(3).jpg" /></a> There are so many pretty places along the Jones Gap Trail it has become one of our favorite hikes. Following along side the Middle Saluda River there many small falls and cascades all along its entire length. The trails are well marked and easy to follow. Another good thing about hiking in this area is when you return back to the trail head it's only about twelve miles or so into Brevard, NC where you can find some great Fish &amp; Chips, Shepherd's Pie, and Bangers &amp; Mash at Dugan's Pub.<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdwA4mVV_GI/AAAAAAAAAH0/ELWtqcwSjXE/s1600-h/Coon+Banch+Trail013+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 333px; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322129832007826530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdwA4mVV_GI/AAAAAAAAAH0/ELWtqcwSjXE/s400/Coon+Banch+Trail013+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdwA4STbUNI/AAAAAAAAAHs/V1bR9M6eRqg/s1600-h/Coon+Banch+Trail029+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 371px; HEIGHT: 516px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322129826631078098" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdwA4STbUNI/AAAAAAAAAHs/V1bR9M6eRqg/s400/Coon+Banch+Trail029+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdwA3-Qr95I/AAAAAAAAAHk/Lp1mji-PGv4/s1600-h/Coon+Banch+Trail030+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 380px; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322129821250877330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdwA3-Qr95I/AAAAAAAAAHk/Lp1mji-PGv4/s400/Coon+Banch+Trail030+(2).JPG" /></a>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-62503749379580969702009-04-05T16:05:00.007-04:002009-04-05T22:12:28.210-04:00Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPwWIlV_I/AAAAAAAAAG4/Qv8aHG7srAs/s1600-h/Heritage+Preserve015+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 368px; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321301757964670962" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPwWIlV_I/AAAAAAAAAG4/Qv8aHG7srAs/s400/Heritage+Preserve015+(2).JPG" /></a> The trail head for this hike is near the parking lot at the end of Horse Pasture Road and 178 near Rocky Bottom, SC. This is an often over looked hiking location, but it is a great walk in the woods and poses no great challenges or difficulties even for the casual hiker. It's a straight forward in and out hike that is easy to follow. However, even the most serious hiker will find this an enjoyable adventure. The Eastatoe Creek is beautiful and once you make it to the stream, make your way to the right over and around some fallen trees and you will come to where this entire creek rushes into a sleuth no more than two or three feet wide. Where the trail ends at the creek the forest to the left is open and clean and has some great camp sites. Camping here along side the Eastatoe Creek would be a most enjoyable place to spend a weekend doing some trout fishing.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPwf5AcgI/AAAAAAAAAGw/LLV-Io0n_6Y/s1600-h/Heritage+Preserve033+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321301760583692802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPwf5AcgI/AAAAAAAAAGw/LLV-Io0n_6Y/s400/Heritage+Preserve033+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPwP0VpAI/AAAAAAAAAGo/NuazqEhl68w/s1600-h/Estatoe+River.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 472px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321301756269143042" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPwP0VpAI/AAAAAAAAAGo/NuazqEhl68w/s400/Estatoe+River.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPv18kPiI/AAAAAAAAAGg/EWaVMBZEoUs/s1600-h/Heritage+Preserve003+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 640px; HEIGHT: 421px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321301749324332578" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPv18kPiI/AAAAAAAAAGg/EWaVMBZEoUs/s400/Heritage+Preserve003+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPvV7_gWI/AAAAAAAAAGY/CE5OLmh6d0s/s1600-h/Heritage+Preserve010+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 553px; HEIGHT: 434px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321301740731990370" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SdkPvV7_gWI/AAAAAAAAAGY/CE5OLmh6d0s/s400/Heritage+Preserve010+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-74693549950595144472009-03-16T12:29:00.009-04:002009-04-07T21:08:46.429-04:00Raven Cliff Falls Loop<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Sb5_aCEyDxI/AAAAAAAAAFg/SlVQ9XykzdM/s1600-h/Raven+Cliff+Loop+2009+(35)+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 380px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313824695554019090" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Sb5_aCEyDxI/AAAAAAAAAFg/SlVQ9XykzdM/s400/Raven+Cliff+Loop+2009+(35)+(2).JPG" /></a> Many people only view this cable suspension bridge over Raven Cliff Falls from the overlook that's an easy walk from the parking lot on 276 just north of Caesar's Head State Park. A few more trek down the Gum Gap Trail then turn left onto the Naturaland Trust Trail for a half mile or so to the bridge. For a real challenge, make a full loop hike to the cable suspension bridge, by taking the Raven Cliff Falls Trail to the Dismal Trail down to the Naturaland Trust Trail. Then turn right and make your way up the side of the mountain to the bridge. This section of the Naturaland Trust is very difficult, but loaded with cool extra features like a cable crossing and ladders to climb. A huge rock wall named the Cathedral along the trail make a good resting place before you get to the suspension bridge. Continue over the bridge to the Gum Gap and then to the Raven Cliff Falls Trail to complete the full loop. Like I said this is a difficult hike and a little over seven miles long so know your limitations. There are many places on the Naturaland Trust where the trail is narrow with steep slopes and drop offs on one side where a slip or fall could mean real trouble so if you take kids on this trail make sure you keep them under control.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Sb5_aIzU1tI/AAAAAAAAAFY/7INL1--O_NQ/s1600-h/Raven+Cliff+Loop+2009+(33)+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 434px; HEIGHT: 361px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313824697359849170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Sb5_aIzU1tI/AAAAAAAAAFY/7INL1--O_NQ/s400/Raven+Cliff+Loop+2009+(33)+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Sb5_ZiUTEYI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/8ZKsxVTZZC4/s1600-h/Raven+Cliff+Loop+2009+(6)+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313824687029162370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Sb5_ZiUTEYI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/8ZKsxVTZZC4/s400/Raven+Cliff+Loop+2009+(6)+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Sb5_ZH-LZGI/AAAAAAAAAFI/qfLw1DGG48w/s1600-h/Raven+Cliff+Loop+2009+(3)+(2).JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 526px; HEIGHT: 473px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313824679957062754" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/Sb5_ZH-LZGI/AAAAAAAAAFI/qfLw1DGG48w/s400/Raven+Cliff+Loop+2009+(3)+(2).JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-85424733204909088882009-03-06T07:50:00.006-05:002009-03-06T08:05:43.294-05:00Botanical Gardens in ClemsonAfter the early March snow that swept across the Upstate of South Carolina we went for a walk through the Botanical Gardens. Not exactly a hike, but always a pretty place to go for a walk any time of the year. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEdUhCaQNI/AAAAAAAAAFA/Ljeo38nODZU/s1600-h/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 279px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310057673949593810" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEdUhCaQNI/AAAAAAAAAFA/Ljeo38nODZU/s400/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens007.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEdGKpf1vI/AAAAAAAAAE4/GDfxOlS00yM/s1600-h/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens000.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 477px; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310057427421353714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEdGKpf1vI/AAAAAAAAAE4/GDfxOlS00yM/s400/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens000.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEcxU7G8BI/AAAAAAAAAEw/cSy4YzHgUYo/s1600-h/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens006.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 443px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310057069402320914" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEcxU7G8BI/AAAAAAAAAEw/cSy4YzHgUYo/s400/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEcgLShnWI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Aa-ex7HghXY/s1600-h/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens004.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 460px; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310056774758407522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEcgLShnWI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Aa-ex7HghXY/s400/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens004.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEcUtjYjyI/AAAAAAAAAEg/TUGaYgmxa9E/s1600-h/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 332px; HEIGHT: 435px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310056577797492514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SbEcUtjYjyI/AAAAAAAAAEg/TUGaYgmxa9E/s400/Clemson+Botanical+Gardens001.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-87337974452929536642009-02-24T23:10:00.007-05:002009-03-09T07:49:31.165-04:00Moonshine Falls<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SaTHO7rzURI/AAAAAAAAAD4/hFhlhLTCyQo/s1600-h/Moonshine+Falls.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 312px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 439px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306585320302792978" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SaTHO7rzURI/AAAAAAAAAD4/hFhlhLTCyQo/s400/Moonshine+Falls.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SaTFaQ_6jWI/AAAAAAAAADw/OWUM9zidqS8/s1600-h/still+2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 283px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306583315979603298" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SaTFaQ_6jWI/AAAAAAAAADw/OWUM9zidqS8/s400/still+2.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SaTE8IutyWI/AAAAAAAAADg/WcFLw8UyekM/s1600-h/Nancy+crossing+3.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 222px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 310px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306582798363904354" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SaTE8IutyWI/AAAAAAAAADg/WcFLw8UyekM/s400/Nancy+crossing+3.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>The barrels from an old moonshine still remain in a cavern behind this waterfall. </div><div></div><div>This is a great hike with a fun cable crossing. The original trail head has been closed, but you can access Moonshine Falls from the trail head at the Asbury Methodist Youth Camp near the intersection of Highway 8 and 276. This is private property so please call ahead for permission to enter the camp.</div></div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-11776603607559014662009-02-22T09:21:00.007-05:002009-04-07T22:06:18.660-04:00On the Jones Gap Trail<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SaFfxy0nH9I/AAAAAAAAACw/3it518sH6jU/s1600-h/Pictures+from+Desktop+036.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 461px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 345px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305627145079824338" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SaFfxy0nH9I/AAAAAAAAACw/3it518sH6jU/s400/Pictures+from+Desktop+036.jpg" /></a><br /><div>This one of the many waterfalls (Dargan's Cascade) along the Jones Gap Trail. We like to access the Jones Gap Trail by starting from the parking lot on Highway 276 a mile or so past Caesars Head State Park. We hike the Coldsprings Branch Trail to the JGT then turn left and follow the Saluda River until we get to the Tom Miller Trail. The Tom Miller Trail takes us back to the parking lot for about a 5 1/2 mile loop. </div><div></div><div>You can also access the Jones Gap Trail from Jones Gap State Park.</div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407739945755210515.post-63303248740326470052009-02-20T06:48:00.003-05:002009-02-23T10:47:00.419-05:00Sometimes I Trade My Hiking Shoes for a Pair Of Fins<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SZ6ctK60iDI/AAAAAAAAACc/G6T9ABm3abQ/s1600-h/Pictures+from+Desktop+007.jpg"><span style="font-size:0;"></span><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 378px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304849710928136242" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SZ6ctK60iDI/AAAAAAAAACc/G6T9ABm3abQ/s400/Pictures+from+Desktop+007.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I like to vary my outdoor activities so I don't get stuck in a rut doing only one thing. I don't get to scuba dive as much as I would like too, but occasionally I still like to head south for warmer temperatures and clear water. </div><div></div><div>Once a PADI diving instructor in Anderson, S.C. and in Greenville, S.C., I spent a lot of time under water. The Florida Keys become one of my favorite<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SZ6aNZm_xYI/AAAAAAAAACU/c3Dw0J6jw2k/s1600-h/Pictures+from+Desktop+064.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 409px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304846966092449154" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hXL30CcrpxA/SZ6aNZm_xYI/AAAAAAAAACU/c3Dw0J6jw2k/s400/Pictures+from+Desktop+064.jpg" /></a> diving destinations to take personal vacations or to lead shop trips. I also went on several trips diving in Cozumel and the Bahamas. One day I hope to explore the underwater world of Belize and Cancun.<br /><br /></div><div></div>Carolina Explorerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503461643582624421noreply@blogger.com2